This is a Lamp

In my viewpoint, if I haven't got a car or I'm entering the MB market for the first time, I would consider the CLA...but since I'm already driving a C250 @ 24 then I would think that it's a downgrade, unless there are external factors (e.g. financial capabilities etc)

Then again, the CLA isn't out in my country haha.

Glyn M Ruck

In South Africa, which is a Benz mad market & Benz hold 3rd place in the sales rankings after VW & Toyota the W204, which has sold well, has always been considered to have stodgy styling by owners. The W205 seems likely to address this.

The fresh new A & derivatives are doing what Benz intended. Bringing new buyers to the brand. There is some trading down taking place due to our high fuel price but the W205 which is a somewhat larger car than the W204 will be offered here in various hybrid forms which will probably stop canibalisation at intended pricing.

alsyli

Not generally a fan of swoopy designs b/c visibility and head room suffer.

However, I'm very interested in seeing the new C-class since I like my current car but would like a (slightly) bigger and more comfortable interior (sat in an E-class at a the auto show last yr and thought the driver's seat was amazingly cushy and comfortable). Also interested in seeing if MB makes good on its promise to give the C-class a segment-leading interior.

Glyn M Ruck

Yes ~ it would be nice not to have to wait for a facelift to get a half decent interior.

Gashde

I've always thought the CLA as a downgrade to the C class, but the CLA 45 is probably a different story since I'm no where near affording a C63 here, I'm definitely excited to give that thing a go when it is released here.

alsyli

Wouldn't it?

Although, to be fair, the pre-facelift was inoffensive enough that you (I) just sort of ended up ignoring it rather easily after a few wks. And the materials were also clearly very thick and durable.

Not liking what I'm seeing from the few interior spy pics of the W205, but I like the exterior and I'm hoping MB can dress up the interior nicely (I'm assuming a stitched MB-tex dash will finally be an option, since the CLA has one in the US). Also very much looking forward to being able to buy a C-class diesel in the US, esp since the E250 has very good EPA numbers. Hopefully the quality of the US-built cars will be good. But I'm not getting a new car until 2017 at the earliest, so I have time to see reliability ratings....

bigigg

Reality is, a younger demographic that can afford $350/month lease will be all over this car.. Most just to say "I drive a Benz". A 19 y/o doesn't care that there friend is squished in the back seat, or that they have an ugly nav screen. I personally think the car looks great, but is just too small for my daily needs.

Sportstick

That does seem to be the strategy....young singles and couples.....and it should go well UNTIL they saddle up to the cashier window after their first A Service. "I never paid that much for an oil change at Honda!" A salesman I know at our local MB dealer had the same thought and they are going to push adding pre-paid maintenance into the price of the car, so it gets rolled into the monthy to try to minimize service department sticker shock. Doesn't include a sock puppet to cover up the nav screen, however!

Glyn M Ruck

I'm not convinced that the Audi A3, which is considered best in class, looks any better with screen deployed.









Anyway, all A Class, B Class, CLA, GLA etc have the same screen so we had better get used to it until facelift time.

alsyli

Har! My family has driven MBs for decades at this point, but my C250 is the first time I've had to pay for maintenance and the car itself on my own. I was anticipating $300-400 for my recent Service B w/ the coupon, but when my service manager told me that the "Best" level maintenance was $600+, I really did just give him a look and then said, "Uh, I'll take the 'Good' level, thanks." I asked him if pre-paid maintenance takes care of all of this.... And it does (and so that's what I'll be getting the next time around).

Interestingly enough, he said that the pre-paid maintenance was developed, in part, b/c MB service stations were getting into "price wars" w/ each other and were advertising special deals that didn't perform the minimum level of recommended work/checks. I found this interesting b/c I had read on the forum that pre-paid maintenance was to help make sure leased cars were adequately serviced. Perhaps MB was thinking that pre-paid maintenance would help w/ both issues. Quite smart of them, actually....

My last car was an Accord, which was surprisingly unreliable for a Honda (I was not anticipating having the car fall apart shortly after hitting 100,000 mi, which is sort of what happened)....

MDMercedesGuy

Really? I think it looks pretty damn good popped up. The fact that you can retract it and get it out of the way is even better.

The Mercedes solution looks like an afterthought. Like a cheap Garmin aftermarket GPS with a mount bought off of ebay.

Sportstick

I believe you are not convinced!

But, you hit a key point......"with screen deployed".....which is about 5-10% at most for me. I know my way around enough, that I don't need the nav often and I certainly don't want something of that size blaring out the name of the radio station selected.

Secondly, there is a company in the US called JCWhitney whose name has become sort of a code word for "added on, not built in". With the tacky chrome racetrack and positioning, the CLA screen is V-E-R-Y "JCWhitney", while the Audi is subtle, well integrated, available for use when needed, and gone when not. Even my pre-facelift C Class has a superior IP design for the screen with the manually closeable cover for the radio screen. Watch....this error will be corrected in surprisingly short time....just like the quickly passing horror of voice warnings...."Your door is ajar", etc..... decades ago.

Glyn M Ruck

Bad news for those that don't like it is that it looks as though the W205 will have the same arangement. BTW the Audi version vibrates quite badly.

Good news is that it will probably be revised at facelift as you suggest if the general concensus is anti.

I still don't mind it on an entry level model two below a C Class.

Presume no one likes the JC Whitney gauge accoutrements standard on a Mini or Smart etc.?

It's amazing what gets past numerous focus groups. I do believe that Benz believes that the modern young tech geek is going to interface with that screen continuously.

MDMercedesGuy

I wish my tach had been built in on my smart. The pods were not obtrusive at least.

You're also talking about cars several classes lower than a CLA or A3.

Glyn M Ruck

Mini Hatch range including Cooper, Cooper S & JCW is in exactly the same price range as the A Class hatch excluding the A45 AMG. Yes the Mini is a slightly smaller car.

Cosinav

I took a detailed look at both the C and CLA and in the end I went with the C for the following reasons (btw I do fall into the 'younger buyers' category):

1. RWD
2. Felt more comfortable to drive
3. Savings of $10K - my C200 AMG Edition cost $51K, the CLA 250 would have cost $61K
4. More mods and accessories available for the C class
5. Overall the C class was a better deal

Glyn M Ruck

Makes sense!

davis449

I really hoped the CLA 45 AMG would be the car to bring me back to Benz. Alas, I saw a CLA 250 Sport in person in Europe two months ago...NOPE. The styling is NOT what I thought it would be in the physical form.

Glyn M Ruck

Yes ~ The launch here is weeks away. I have not seen the CLA in the flesh without covers.
I like the nose of the car but something worries me about the tail. Look forward to seeing it.

I'm not in the market for a new car but intend taking the A45 for a spin next week just for fun.

milan187

I would not do it.
In Canada to get the CLA equipped with the lights and all the nice stuff (you need to spend 44k), basically the same price as C300 with nav.

The AMG45? I would maybe consider but not in the auto

Makes me sad its not an option on any MB in Canada anymore.
The C300 my wife drives is fine for her with auto but my next car will be manual and I wish MB had an option for me, even if I had to wait ~3 months.

alsyli

Just saw a lightly disguised w205 driving on a major street (same one as last time) again in LA. Hard to say much b/c I was going the opposite way (damnit!) but the overall look is definitely much softer and yet more upright. Greenhouse seems fairly tall and the narrow appeared to be on the narrow side. Tail lights looks like the new S-class.

Quite elegant and seems to have of the classic MB proportions than, say, an w212.

Glyn M Ruck

Been travelling, just returned.

Took a CLA 45 & an E400 twin turbo Cab for a spin today. Both a great drive. The E is obviously more refined but the CLA 45 is great fun & pretty quick.

snowmuch

With the w205 going with mini S-class baby benz and CLA being a cheap(interior) ugly car I think I'm forced to go with BMW or Audi for my next car :s

victort

having now seen a CLA250 in person, still not a fan. the car doesn't look proportional to me. Not wide enough and too high. Does not look sporty at all. that's just the exterior. Once getting inside, i was heavily disappointed in the size, look, and quality. I remember reading somewhere about people saying it's suppose to be C-class-sized. No way is it even close to the same size as the current C. overall, very disappointed in the CLA. Not to mention the $38,000+ MSRP on it that was on the lot

Doa

i know what you mean! i still hope i have enough budget to get a CLS as my next car because i fear there's not much else left since the SL is not a family car and the CL is way too expensive. perhaps a pre-facelift W212 E class if i make a switch next year but i already have an E coupe now